14-Day Makeover Challenge: Fashion Check-in

Week 2: One week down, one to go! When we left off with Nicole last week, she had a rack full of bright clothes and an arsenal of new tricks from her styling session with celeb stylist-turned-accessories designer Ariela Suster. But the real challenge was just beginning: Incorporate a new item into her outfit every single day. How’s she doing? Let’s find out!

After mixing and matching for seven days straight, we asked Nicole which tips were working best—and she was full of advice! Here are Nicole’s new foolproof ways for making any outfit pop.

Mix in versatile pieces
“Of course, I was instantly drawn to the blazer ― it’s black. But what I love most is how it makes any outfit more dressy or sophisticated instantly.”

Add color
“Because of this shirt, I've been buying a lot of teal. I love this color, even though I have always avoided blues of any kind.”

Bag it
“I don’t really carry purses, but I love this colorblock bag! It’s such an easy way to add color to any black outfit.”

Tune in next Tuesday (4/24) for the final results of Nicole’s fashion makeover. Plus, score her new favorite pieces in our 14-Day Makeover Challenge: Fashion sale. You can also learn more about our makeover series here and follow our healthy-eating and hair challenges.

Hair Makeover Challenge: The Results

Week 3: Two weeks ago, Jessica walked out of Ted Gibson’s NYC salon with a new cut and head-turning color. She’s since delved into ideeli-supplied hair products and tools, styling her new ‘do differently for 14 days straight. How’d it go? Let’s find out!

Last week, Jessica gave us an update and told us how to get the look of three, new styles. Today she’s back with the three products she could not style without — all of which you can find in our 14-Day Makeover Challenge: Hair sale (ending 4/19 at 10AM). Find out why Jessica loves them below!

Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner
“This stuff is luxurious! Taking a shower feels like I'm being bathed in a rich vanilla scent, and it sticks with me throughout the day. It's a great foundation for soft, moisturized hair that's not weighed down at all.”

CHI Digital Ceramic Hair Waver
This helped me create a look I've been wanting to try for years! It creates those finger waves that were so popular in the '20s, and I've never been able to create those on my own. This tool is great for a formal occasion where you want to shine in a crowd. Literally, the ceramic plates give the hair a glistening shine. It's really gorgeous!

Carol’s Daughter Macadamia Heat-Styling Spray
“Just before and after styling, I use this hairspray. It doesn't leave the hair crunchy and gives it a soft, supple hold. My hair has been infallible on windy — if anything, it looks better! No matter what I do, with this arsenal at my fingertips, every day is a good hair day!”

Tempted to start your own hair makeover? Learn more about Jessica’s from start to finish. To find out more about our 14-Day Makeover Series Challenge, go here, where you can also follow our healthy eating and fashion challenges.

14-Day Makeover Challenge: Hair

Week 2: Last week, we left Jessica with a chic, new cut and irresistible, coppery-red color. Still basking in her post-salon glow, the hard part of the 14-Day Makeover Challenge was just beginning: giving her new locks a different style for two weeks straight. Now with one week down, left’s find out how she’s doing!

Turns out, a makeover challenge isn’t so hard when you love your hair. Jessica can’t stop experimenting with her new beauty products from ideeli, straightening and curling her locks into new looks every single day. In fact, she gets so many compliments, she can barely field them anymore! But while it’s nice to be noticed, the best part is how she feels about herself.

”I actually feel lighter, better, and more confident in myself when I walk out the door in the morning. It really makes a difference in your disposition when you're happy with how you're presenting yourself.”

Here are Jessica’s three favorite looks—with easy steps to making them your own.

Scrunched-up Waves
“I wanted tight-messy curls that would loosen as the day went on—so they could go from a day at the office to a night out.”

1. Blow-dry hair fully.
2. Use medium-size, clipless curling iron; wrap hair downward around the iron with your hand, but don’t curl the ends.
3. Add de-frizzing product (I used E.V.A. Argan Oil Treatment).

Soft and Sleek
“For a just-from-the-salon look at work, I did a total 180 from my usual wavy hair, straightening it but still keeping a slight curl at the bottom.”

1. Blow-dry hair completely.
2. Add a heat-protecting product (I used Carol's Daughter Heat-Protection Foam). Straighten with flat iron.
3. Add de-frizzing product, like E.V.A. Argan Oil Treatment.

Pin Straight
“I wanted to straighten my hair, but spend less time than I did with the style above. The result is edgier and more textured.”

1. Blow-dry hair completely.
2. Add a heat-protecting product, like Carol's Daughter Heat-Protection Foam. Straighten with flat iron.
3. Use a hairspray or gel (I used Carol's Daughter Macadamia Heat-Styling Hairspray) to add texture.

Tune in next Tuesday (4/17) for the final results of Jessica’s hair makeover and to score her favorite styling tools and hair products in our 14-Day Makeover Challenge: Hair sale. You can also learn more about our makeover series and follow our healthy-eating and fashion challenges.

Fashion Makeover: Meet the Expert

From What Not to Wear to Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style to The Zoe Report, the personal stylist has become a modern-day fairy godparent. Whether they guide us with tough love or the softest cashmere, one thing’s for sure: we all want one. Alas, we are mere mortals who, most days, only get feedback from our full-length mirrors. Last week, however, our lucky fashion makeover winner, Nicole, got to live the dream when we brought in a professional stylist to help refresh her wardrobe.

Yesterday, we introduced you to Nicole, an ideeli employee who wants to take her laid-back, all-black wardrobe to a new level of colorful sophistication. After Ariela Suster — a celebrity stylist and owner/designer of the accessories label Sequence Collection — showed Nicole how to update her wardrobe, we sat down with her to get some advice. And, fortunately, she was game! Here are Ariela’s five foolproof styling tips for updating your look.

1. Want to add more color to your wardrobe? Start with accessories! They provide the perfect pop without traveling too far outside your comfort zone.
2. If (like me) you’re vertically challenged—in other words, short!—use nude or light-colored shoes to elongate your legs. Stay away from anything dark that will cut you off at the ankle.
3. One well-fitting blazer is a wardrobe must-have! It’s the easiest way to add structure to an outfit. Plus, it makes anything you wear it with feel infinitely more polished.
4. Always highlight your waist. Even if you’re wearing a blazer or cardigan over something else, wrap a belt around your natural waistline. It will nip you in at your most flattering point.
5. Patterns can be overwhelming, so here’s a good rule of thumb: The larger (and wilder) the print the further away from your face you want it. So stick with smaller prints on tops and blouses, and if you really want to go for it, try a boldly patterned skirt.

Check out the first part of Nicole’s fashion makeover and learn more about the 14-Day Makeover Challenge. You can also follow our challenges for hair and healthy eating.

Healthy Eating: The Results

Now that Kirsten had a nutrition consultation, completed a food cleanse, and spent two weeks eating an ultra-healthy diet, she has new knowledge and tested tips to share with us. What did she learn? What tools helped the most? Let’s find out!

Kirsten started her journey with a one-on-one consultation with Keri Glassman, author and founder of NutritiousLife, and says Glassman’s Slim Calm Sexy Diet was equally helpful, providing recipes, nutritional facts, and quick references like ingredient substitutions. ”Knowing what each food has to offer (and not offer) makes it much easier to choose healthy foods,” says Kirsten. “Being aware is what can make or break your level of success.”

Here are five items that Kirsten found indispensable over the last two weeks.

Cuisineart 8-Piece Nonstick Pots and Pans Set
“These truly ‘nonstick’ pots and pans made it so easy to cut out unwanted fats while cooking. Clean-up was a breeze, too, because I wasn't busy scraping away particles that became one with the pan.”

Cuisineart SmartPower Premier Blender
“Experimenting with different types of smoothies entertained me for a freakishly long time, but this blender can also whip up a serious batch of salsa. Clean up was easy, and the smaller portions helped me maintain my cool without over indulging.”

Cool Gear Containers
“With sturdy utensils built in, it was easy to bring anything for lunch. The separate, built-in compartments are nothing short of genius!”

KitchenAid Salad Chopper
“My obsession with "Slim Slaw" (from Slim Calm Sexy Diet) pretty much began on day one of the cleanse—and this chopper was the easiest way to make it. It was fun to use, and life was so much easier when chopping fine, consistent pieces. Every kitchen should have one!”

Tempted to start your own healthy-eating makeover? Score Kirsten’s favorite products in our 14-Day Makeover Challenge: Cooking sale (ending 4/12 at 10AM EDT). You can also learn more about our makeover series and follow our hair and fashion challenges.